Parents as Advocates

It's January, which means it is Social Media Advocacy Month in the music therapy cyber world.  Last year I wrote about advocating in our everyday lives. As I thought about what advocacy aspect to address this year, I found myself focusing on a question I often receive: How do I get music therapy services for my child with special needs?  

When you think about it, the answer lies in advocacy.

Here are ways in which parents advocating services for their child can also advocate for the field of music therapy.

Request an Assessment
The U.S. Department of Education recognizes music therapy as a related service under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  However, there are still many educators and administrators who are unaware of this specification.  By requesting an assessment - the first step to receiving music therapy services - parents bring awareness to the field, create opportunities to educate the educators, and just may elicit overall program changes.  I received my first school-wide contract in part because one parent requested music therapy services for her child.

Invite Music Therapists to Speak
Most music therapists jump at the opportunity to speak about our field.  Parent support or advocacy groups are a great place to share information and gather additional advocates.  I am a firm believer in the policy of strength in numbers!

Contact Your Legislators
Currently, there are a number of states working for legislature establishing a state music therapy license.  This not only ensures clients are receiving the highest level of care from properly trained professionals, but it also strengthens the case for healthcare coverage of music therapy services.  Parent testimonials supporting the role of music therapy provides legislators with a tangible, human reason to join our advocacy efforts.

What other ideas do you have?  Are you a parent of a child with special needs; how have you been successful in advocating for services? Let us know, leave a comment below!

"There's So Much to Be Thankful For"

Last fall, inspired by a Michigan Music Therapists workshop presentation from music therapists Angie Snell and Laurel Rosen-Weatherford, I taught my adolescent and young adult special education students signs to accompany Josh Groban's Thankful (on the Noel album).  The students performed the piece at our annual holiday program in December and left very few dry eyes among the staff and parents in attendance.  For confidentiality reasons, I am not able to post the video of their performance, but I am able to share this video I recorded of myself during class; their classroom teachers used this video to help the students practice outside of our weekly session.  

I wish you all a safe and Happy Thanksgiving; you are all among the many blessings for which I am thankful. 





Follow-up to "The Magical 'Moving Guitar'"



Today, for the first time, that same student stood independently from his/her chair in order to get to the tone chimes.  The teacher and I both did instant happy dances! 

Music therapy: using music as the means to accomplish non-musical goals. 

THIS is why I'm a music therapist.  Even though I don't have children of my own, I know the thrill and excitement of achieving 'firsts'.  Those 'firsts' seem even more exciting when they're delayed.  Or when an individual achieves something the "experts" said they never would.  Everyday I get to witness children, adolescents, and young adults exceeding expectations.  I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to use my musical gifts to elicit positive changes for others and to have the priviledge to work with such amazing people - students, staff, parents, administrators - everyday.  Thank you all for allowing me the honor to provide Creative Opportunities to Develop so many extraordinary Abilities!  

The Magical "Moving Guitar"

The magic of the "Moving Guitar" revealed itself yet again this week: I had another kiddo start walking during music therapy.

What is the "Moving Guitar?"  The "Moving Guitar" is a trick I discovered a few years back.  At the end of class, students have a turn to strum my guitar using the giant pick during the goodbye song.  I have many students that are very motivated by and look forward to playing the guitar.  I've found that if I hand the student the pick and then slowly back up on my rolling stool so that I am just out of reach, they will take a step or two to reach me and the guitar.  I utilize this technique when students are really close to walking independently, but just need that extra motivation to let go.

After months of coaxing a "step or two", on Tuesday those couple steps became eight.  And then another fourteen.  And then my student spent a good portion of the rest of the afternoon independently walking up and down the school hallway.  And me?  I've been on Cloud 9 ever since!

2010 Reflections, 2011 Aspirations

It's that time of the year.  Christmas has come and gone and we're on the brink of the New Year.  While I indulge in Capital One Bowl Week, I take time to reflect on the year gone by and make plans and goals for the year ahead.

When I reflect on this year with CODA MTS, the most significant thought is that this has been a year of growth, despite the significant economic struggles of our area. At the end of the 2009-2010 school year, the Ingham Intermediate School District was forced to cut a number of programs, due to budget.  The CODA MTS contract was on the chopping block, but only very briefly, as the Special Education Director came forward and vouched for the importance of our program.  Unfortunately, the middle school ASD program we were servicing as a small portion of our existing contract was cut and the majority of those students transferred into classrooms at Heartwood School.  Luckily, those service hours were added on to the Heartwood music therapy/adapted music education program (contracted by CODA MTS), rather than being eliminated.

This fall, a series of circumstances led me to the decision to implement an Early Childhood Music & Movement (ECM&M) program and the perfect location for those classes essentially fell into my lap.  A true blessing!  I spent the fall preparing for the new program and I look forward to classes starting in a few weeks.

As I was working on preparations for the ECM&M program, I received a call from Clinton County RESA, expressing an interest in contracting bi-weekly services at their special education center.  A mere three weeks into the contract, they proposed increasing the contract to weekly services for the remainder of the school year!

I am so very grateful for all this growth and am thrilled others' are seeing the many benefits and rewards of music therapy.  As I look ahead to 2011, I am very excited to get the ECM&M program running.  It is my goal to have at least six full classes by the end of the year.  Additionally, I want 2011 to be the year I am finally able to make strides in implementing a NICU MT and/or pediatrics music therapy program in at least one of our local hospitals.  All the corporate "red tape" has made this a daunting challenge, but - I am putting it in writing - I will see progress with this task by this time next year!

Wishing everyone a safe and very happy New Year.  LET'S GO STATE!